Thimble.



PATEN'TED NOV. 3, 19 3. c. HBMBNWAY.

THIMBLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16. 1903.

I0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented November 3, I903.

PATENT OFFICE.

THIMBLE.

SEEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,280, dated November 3, 1903..

v Application filed March 16, 1903. Serial No. 148,042. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEVELAND HEMEN- WAY, a citizen of the United States, residingat North Adams, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Thimbles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to sewing-thimbles, and has for its object to construct a thimble provided with a device for gripping a needle to enable the needle to be pulled through buttons or heavy cloth when stuck.

The simple and novel construction employed by me incarrying out my invention is fully described and claimed in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which Figure 1 is a perspective of my device, together with a needle engaged thereby and a hand holding it. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the thimble and needle. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig, 4 is a. transverse section on the line 4: 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail section taken transversely the ring.

The numeral 1 designates a thimble of ordinary frusto-conical form and having a rim 2. A shallow groove 3 is formed in the thimble adjacent to the rim 2 and extends sub stantially parallel thereto, which groove 3 is knurled. A broad ring 4. is snugly fitted over the thimble close to the rim and is of unequal diameter at the two ends e and 4* to conform to the contour of the thimble 1. The ring 41 is hollowed out on the under side to secure space for a push-button 5, which is mounted in a transverse aperture 6 in said ring, is located directly over the groove 3, and is provided with a ledge 7, which engages the under side of the ring 4. to secure the button in place. The under face 5 of the button 5 is serrated to adapt it to cooperate with the knurled groove 3 to engage and hold a needle. To enable a needle to be inserted in the groove 3 and beneath the button 5, elliptical apertures 8 are formed in the ring 4 on opposite sides of the button and in alinement thereof. A spring 9, extending through a transverse aperture 10 in the button 5, serves to restore it to its initial position. Should a needle 11 stick in the goods or be hard to pull through, the point thereof is inserted in one of the apertures 8 and forced through beneath the button 4 and out the other aperture 8. The thumb is then applied to the button 4 to engage the needle and hold it againstwithdrawal. Force is then applied to the thimble and the needle drawn through the sewing.

1 do not wish to be limited as to details of construction, as these may be modified in many particulars without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1.- In combination with a thimble of a ring snugly fitting over said thimble, and having apertures therein to enable a needle to be inserted tangentially the thimble, and a pushbutton mounted in an aperture in said ring located intermediate said first-mentioned apertures, said button having a serrated face located to engage a needle inserted in said firstmentioned apertures, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a thimble having a tangential groove therein, of a ring fitting the larger end thereof and having a large aperture therein flanked by two smaller apertures designed to accommodate a needle, and a push-button mounted in said large aperture and located just above said grooves, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLEVELAND HEMEN WAY.

Witnesses:

BERNARD MOLAUGHLIN, EDWARD C. KIELY. 

